New York, NY (Top40 Charts) This week, the Los Angeles based MC Xcellence! is out with "Wu Flu Pandemic," his explosive new hip hop single he hopes will raise more awareness about coronavirus. "This song is meant to get the word out to people about the seriousness of this virus," he says. "I hope to encourage people to practice good hygiene and to pay attention to symptoms to protect the populace." It's a lighthearted, fun and danceable track with great word play that pays homage to Wu-Tang Clan, one of Xcellence!'s favorite acts. Produced by Neighborhood Watch, engineered and recorded by Andrew Valdez, and being released through Xcellent music, Xcellence!'s "Wu Flu Pandemic" is available on Spotify, Apple
Music and all digital retailers.
"I have been watching the coronavirus spread since January," Xcellence! explains from his Los Angeles home. "It caused me to abruptly stop air travel. I even missed the Washington DC funeral of Michael "Snowy" Snowden, one of my dearest friends."
He has also canceled a birthday celebration trip to Australia and one to Brazil, just as that country was confirming its first case of coronavirus.
"My friends and family thought I was crazy in January but now they see that everything I've been warning about has come to pass."
Xcellence! felt the need to make the song two weeks ago, when he saw the masses of people at Brazil Carnival, Venice Carnival, Milan fashion week and Australia Gay Mardi Gras ignoring the health risks of large gatherings. "I see my friends out there on social media just blissfully unaware of what's going on in the world," he says.
He also argues that the CDC and World Health Organization are downplaying the outbreak and refusing to call it a pandemic in fear of scaring the population and further hurting the economy. "This ignorance is bliss mentality has led to people not giving coronavirus the serious attention it warrants," he continues. "We are not defined by tragedy but how we respond to it."
His message in "Wu Flu Pandemic" isn't one of fear, but to simply be more careful, use better hygiene, wash hands, stay home if possible, and be aware that coronavirus is not an Asian, European or Middle eastern problem. It is a humanities problem.
It took Xcellence! less than a week to write and record the single. "I'm a very prolific writer, especially if I feel something in my soul. These words practically wrote themselves. Sometimes I swear they were heaven sent."
He had another record out that he was pushing, but has stopped promotion on "
Burnout" to concentrate on "Wu Flu Pandemic".
Xcellence! introduced himself to hip hop five years ago with music that artfully blends urban beats and progressive house. His name, given to him by his fraternity brothers, is a nod at his desire to strive for perfection. He heads the independent label, Xcellent Music, and says his number one goal is to make people dance and have fun and to make songs that live on forever.
"Wu Flu Pandemic" is a marked departure from his typical music but as he explains, "Someone needs to get the word out on coronavirus in a way that youth will digest it because the news is all doom and gloom and frankly, most kids don't pay attention to it."
Andre Xcellence!'s "Wu Flu Pandemic" is available now on all streaming platforms. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram @ andrexcellence.
